Restaurante Carmen Cartagena

We came to celebrate our engagement to Carmen. The food was great! For us, the best and most complex flavors we experienced were in the crab salad at the beginning, the shrimp tacos, and the lobster. They were delicious! The ceviche came with a tiger’s milk in the shape of ice cream (fish ice cream (?)) it was nice and interesting. They brought us a very nice additional dessert to celebrate with us. We are very happy with our experience!

We absolutely loved our meal at Carmen and it was a really special way to end our time in Cartagena. We went for the 9 course tasting menu with the drinks pairing - we are used to being full after a big tasting menu; but even with 10 or 11 courses, we’ve not received this much food. The portion sizes are generous! We left very happy but absolutely stuffed. Service is impeccable - a huge shoutout to Beethoven in particular, who was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the food, telling us a lot about the dishes, recommending the best way to eat it, and switching between Spanish and English seamlessly. He made the tasting menu experience, an experience. The rest of the team were great too; we were moved to a better table in the courtyard because it was our honeymoon, the drinks pairings were explained really well, Juan who took over service at the end rounded the meal off well. The food is on point - local flavours done really well. It’s not experimental fine dining, but we didn’t want that. We wanted elevated, perfectly cooked dishes with the flavours of Colombia and that’s what we had. No misses. Finally, we absolutely LOVED the drinks pairing and you should definitely choose it if you’re having the tasting menu - great wines, some surprising cocktails, and we loved the bold call of an ice cold beer. 100% recommend if you’re looking to do something special.

Carmen is a great restaurant. Our waiter (Arden?) was so sweet, kind. His Spenglish was also great. The best service we had in Cartagena. The place is amazing. We got the 7 courses with wine pairing for about $200US/person. Definitely recommend the wine pairing. Even thought half the drinks came from Italy, they bring you custom-made drinks to match your food on a few occasions as well. The food was all good, local, etc. But Carmen is not reinventing the wheel. Everything is pretty classic. Slightly disappointing but overall good.

Hands down the best restaurant we’ve been to so far on our trip to Cartagena. Yes, the prices are on the higher side compared to other places here, but every single dish made it completely worth it. From start to finish, everything was exceptional. The ceviche is an absolute must—easily the best I’ve had while in Colombia. I also tried the chicharrón, which was perfectly cooked and packed with flavor, and do not skip dessert—it was the perfect ending to an already amazing meal. Beyond the food, the ambience is incredible. The restaurant itself is stunning and feels like an experience on its own—elegant, tropical, and incredibly well designed. It’s easily one of the most beautiful restaurants we’ve seen in Cartagena. If you’re looking for a memorable dining experience with top-tier food, service, and atmosphere, this place is a must-visit. Highly recommended. 🌿🍽️✨

Carmen Restaurant in Cartagena delivered an incredible dining experience from start to finish. The service was exceptional — the staff took time to explain each dish as it was served, adding a personal and educational touch that really elevated the evening. They also surprised us with several small dishes on the house, which made the meal feel even more special. We sat outside near the tree, and it was the perfect setting — romantic, peaceful, and beautifully designed with lush greenery all around. The weather was ideal, and there were no issues with bugs thanks to fans providing a gentle, cool breeze. The food was outstanding. We started with the tostadas (beautifully presented and flavorful) and seafood empanadas (crispy, perfectly seasoned, and filled with a delicious mix of seafood). For our mains, the solomito steak was perfectly cooked and full of flavor, and the grilled fish was equally impressive — tender and bursting with taste. They even finished the meal with a complimentary small dessert. Their cocktails were also a highlight — balanced, creative, and beautifully presented. The restaurant offers both 7- and 9-course tasting menus, which we’d love to try next time. Between the exceptional service, amazing food, and beautiful atmosphere, Carmen is a must-visit in Cartagena.

This restaurant specializes in cured/smoked meats. They have a great ambience with a courtyard and plants and even options to sit inside in the airconditioning. We had really friendly waiting staff. We ordered 2 of the specialties. We enjoyed the taste of the meat, they were served with some greens and potato wedges. The portions and side dishes were quite small for the prices we paid. However, the ambience and live music in this restaurant was very enjoyable.

We had a wonderful experience during our visit. Our waiter, Liz, provided exceptional service from start to finish. She was incredibly friendly, professional, and attentive to every detail. Liz took the time to carefully understand our dietary requirements, and made sure everything was perfect for us. The food was delicious and definitely worth the price, great quality and beautifully presented. Overall, we left extremely satisfied and would happily return. Highly recommended!

The Best Restaurant in Cartagena Carmen Cartagena is, without a doubt, the best restaurant in the city. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere just felt special. You can tell the whole team truly loves what they do—there’s this warmth and positive energy that makes the entire experience unforgettable. The hostess welcomed us with such kindness and made us feel at home right away. And our waiter… wow. I’m so sad I don’t remember his name because he deserves a raise. Honestly, he deserves to be highlighted as Employee of the Year. I even took a screenshot from a video when he brought out the gin drink he recommended, because HE TRULY deserves the compliments. From the bottom of my heart. (Perdón, mi rey, por no tener una mejor foto!) He was lively, enthusiastic, and full of thoughtful suggestions the entire night. His passion for the menu—and for making sure we had the best experience—really stood out. And on top of that, he was incredibly careful and accommodating with my gluten-free needs, which means so much to me as someone with celiac disease. And the food… WOW. The flavors were layered so beautifully it felt like a whole 4D experience. The dishes were creative, unexpected, and absolutely delicious. They even surprised us with small treats between courses, like pan de yuca (so Colombiano ♥️) and an additional dessert. I left completely impressed and would come back to Cartagena just to eat here again. If you’re unsure and you’ve stumbled across this review—go. You will NOT be disappointed, I promise. De entradas ordenamos: - Ceviche - Pulpo - Shrooms Platos fuertes: - No me llames Cazuela - NY strip Postre - One of a kind, because they tweaked it for me because of the gluten allergy. It was coconut based gelato. Bebibas - Agua con gas michelada - Sortilegio - Bambuco